Pakistan’s interest in the Afghan presidential elections lies in an outcome yielding a legitimate government that brings stability to Afghanistan, says CFR’s Dan Markey.

Nuclear talks with Iran are unlikely to lead to a deal in the short term, but they have had some impact: easing tensions and calming oil markets, says CFR’s Richard Falkenrath.

The midterm-election debate over Islam reflects U.S. voter anxiety towards Islam, fears of terrorism, and ongoing national cultural and ethnic changes, says religion and politics expert John Green. …

Christopher Sabatini, a Latin America expert, says the apparent resolution of the Honduran political crisis--triggered in part by concerns over Hugo Chavez’s influence--marks a triumph for Obama admi…

James M. Lindsay, an expert on U.S. foreign policy, and a former director of studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, discusses the first presidential debate between Senator John McCain and Senat…

David Makovsky, an expert on Israeli politics, says it is virtually inevitable that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will be forced to resign, and considers his possible successors.

Anthony H. Cordesman, a prominent analyst of the Iraq war, says if President Bush does not produce a credible, persuasive plan in his Iraq policy speech, “he is going to be perceived relatively quick…

Kenneth M. Pollack says Democrats should give President Bush’s new Iraq plan a chance, but also prepare alternatives.

A leading proponent of invading Iraq, Kenneth M. Pollack now fears Iraq could end up worse off than it was under Saddam Hussein.